Signed up with Coastal in Hammond, Louisiana

Okay, I Passed my hazmat yesterday and maybe get tankers today. Everyone in my class has passed all their tests at the dmv...so we are doing pretrip and we will do some driving today! A former student stopped by yesterday in his schneider tanker and we talked with him for about an hour on a lot of things...I have been interested in schneider for some time and his visit has me motivated...i filled out an application with them last night!!

 

Today we were on the road driving an 18 wheeler!! There were five students in the truck plus the instructor. The bed was replace with a bench seat that 4 of us were seated in. We started of just going thru the gears then braking and down shifting. Next was interstate driving...pretty cool stuf...oh yeah they taught us double clutching and floating the gears...you know we did a lot of griding the gears!

 

Got my tanker endorsement today...we did more driving...I'm geting a little better with the shifting. We also did in-town driving and how to make turns so that the offtracking of the trail won't hit the curb. I need to work on my pre-trip inspection!

 

Yesterday, I learned how to back up in a straight line, offset backing, and 90 degree parking...we did some intown driving and so next week we prepare for testing the week after. Our instructor is super, his name is Jason and he spends time with us individually and gives us step by step instruction on how to drive the truck...I think he is pretty good! Anyway, I'm working to be ready for testing...in the end what matters to me is to have my cdl !!!

 

Okay, I've just finished week 3 of my truck driver school training. Next week is testing. We will have 1. pre trip inspection. 2. straight backing. 3. offset backing. 4. 90 degree alley dock backing. and finally 5. On the road and thru town drive testing. I feel confident today that I can pass the test. But I wasn't confident yesterday and until I figured out what I needed to do on the 90 degree alley dock. I've signed up with 4 carriers with a pre hire application and have an invite from them to go to orientation. They are Schnider, US Express, KLLM, and Werner. I have my hazmat and tanker endorsement but I'm concerned about the length of time to get my license updated from the finger print and back ground check. I'm also concerned about getting my license transfered from Louisiana to Mississippi and if the hazmat will transfer smoothly or not. If there is anyone that has had their license transfered from La. to Ms. I'd like to know how that went.

 

My testing is scheduled for Wednesday at 9am....We aren't allowed to watch and we stuck in the class room all day! Three guys in my group tested today and 1 passed and the other two failed. So hopefully I can learn from the other guys and not duplicate their mistakes.

 

I failed my 90degree alley dock backing test today....I am so bummed out...but i did pass the pre trip and the straight and offset backing...so I have another chance tomorrow or go back next week and get it. I really wanted to throw a fit....but I held it in....I did my prep for the alley dock but got to a point where i didn't know what to do and I used up all 12 points. I'm really not a happy camper....lot of things not going my way...but I just keep trying....what else am I going to do!!!

 

It's official! I have my CDL!! I passed my driving and backing tests! I'm going with Schneider and take my physical and drug screen test today then off for Dallas June 2nd.

 

There has been this big unknown issue with me transferring my louisiana cdl to Mississippi...we I finally got it done....Ms. requires you to retake the hazmat (auuuugh!!! I was ready to do anything but retake that!!!!!) Well my Louisiana training manual was very good...maybe too good! I passed the hazmat with only reviewing all 50 questions 3 times....Man that was huge relief! So I'm a legal begal...got my acceptance and conditional job off from schneider and on my way to Dallas tx tomorrow.